economy
January 15, 2026
Exclusive: How one startup is using prebiotics to try and ease the copper shortage
Transition Metal Solutions is applying a special cocktail to coax microbes into unlocking more copper from ore.
TL;DR
- A global copper shortage is projected to occur as early as 2040, with demand potentially exceeding supply by 25%.
- Transition Metal Solutions has raised $6 million in seed funding to advance its microbial technology for copper extraction.
- The startup's approach involves using additives to enhance the performance of the entire microbial community in copper ore, rather than focusing on isolated strains.
- This method aims to increase copper production by 20% to 30% and improve extraction yields from 60% to potentially 70% or higher.
- Transition plans to validate its technology through third-party lab testing and a demonstration heap leach before wider deployment.
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